Mauricio Pochettino not calling in the big guns for Tottenham's EFL Cup clash with Liverpool

Pochettino handed three players their debuts in the last round of the EFL Cup.Getty

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino will call upon the club's youngsters once again in their EFL Cup fourth round clash with Liverpool.

The north London side eased past Gillingham in third round tie at White Hart Lane in September, with Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen the only first-choice options named in the starting XI that evening.

18-year-old Cameron Carter-Vickers, who Pochettino believes can go onto become one of the best centre-halves in the Premier League, was handed his first start of the season in that tie. Tom Carroll and Harry Winks, who recently signed new deals with the club, also started along, with Josh Onomah.

Marcus Edwards, the 17-year-old likened to Lionel Messi by the Spurs boss, also emerged from the bench to make his debut, along with 19-year-old Anton Walkes.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp meanwhile opted to name strong XIs in the second and third round wins over Burton Albion and Derby County, as they looked to replicate their run to last season's League Cup final.

But Pochettino says he won't be tempted to change things up for the visit to Merseyside on 25 October.

He told Ham & High Sport: "For me, they are not kids or boys, they are players. To show and to prove that they can compete and have the quality to stay in the first team, it is the same against Gillingham at White Hart Lane and against Liverpool at Anfield. They need to show [what they can do]."

He also suggested there will be more debuts to come. "You know, always the big, big players start their careers [somewhere] and they need to make their debut sometimes in a difficult place like Anfield."

Following the international break, Tottenham's league, Champions League and cup commitments will see them play twice a week until after the first week of November, culminating in a North London derby with Arsenal.

While Pochettino has complete faith in his young charges, he also admits the trip to Anfield will be a perfect opportunity to rotate his squad.

"We are involved in the Champions League and [Liverpool] are not involved in European competition so it is a good opportunity for our players who don't play too much, or the younger players, to build their reputation and built their career and confidence for the future."